Tokuyama Corp. has announced that it has formed a 50-50 joint venture (JV) in Taiwan with Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPG) for the purpose of manufacturing and selling high-purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for the electronics industry. The companies have invested NT$1 billion (US$34.16 million) of capital into the new venture.

 

The JV will be called Formosa Tokuyama Advanced Chemicals Co., Ltd., and will be headquartered in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

 

The plant for the joint venture is to be on a 1.6 hectare plot in Kaohsiung, with construction scheduled to be completed by September next year and production beginning by December.

 

The plant is expected to produce 30,000 tonnes of high-purity IPA per year, made from propylene supplied by FPG.

 

Due to the advances made in 5G, IoT, AI and other technologies, the semiconductor market is expected to continue expanding over the medium to long term, and the demand for high-purity IPA is forecasted to gradually increase. In addition, with the progress being made in the miniaturization of semiconductor devices, customer demands for higher quality and stable supply are ever increasing.

 

Manufactured by a unique, direct hydration method and featuring low concentrations of impurities, Tokuyama high-purity IPA is a cleaning solution used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, and the company has been seeking higher purity to meet customer needs.

 

With the establishment of this joint venture, the company will build an integrated production system from propylene as a raw material in Taiwan and, to further expand its high-purity IPA business, establish a production and supply system that immediately responds to the needs of its customers in Taiwan.